Frank Darry Eidson

Frank Darry Eidson, 93, passed away after a long life Friday, May 20, 2022. Graveside Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport, Louisiana. Frank Darry Eidson was born on Christmas day, December 25, 1928, to Annie Kate Harrell and Darry Alexander Eidson in Louise, Mississippi. Frank was the third of four children. Growing up during the Great Depression and coming from a working family of modest means, Frank began working at an early age. He started out as a newspaper boy delivering papers on his bicycle, worked the projector at the downtown movie theater, and helped his father in his home construction business. After graduating from Greenville High School in 1946, Frank enrolled in Mississippi College. He studied physics and history there, and he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. Following college, Frank pursued his dream of becoming an Air Force pilot and enlisted into the United States Air Force as an officer. As a Lieutenant, Frank's commanding officer described him this way: "Lt. Eidson is well built, of average height and a clean cut young officer. He presents a good example being always neat, clean and smooth shaven. Lt. Eidson is a very good pilot, has an attentive mind, is confident in his ability to cope with emergencies and has a thorough knowledge of the aircraft systems and flying procedures". Frank's student pilot training took him first to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio in 1953. Then, in 1959, Frank was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he would train to fly KC-135 refueling jets and where he would meet his wife, Sylvia Ann Smith. Typical of military life, Frank and Sylvia would move with their family to different Air Force bases about every two years. From Shreveport, Louisiana, they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, and Kokomo, Indiana. Frank served one year in Vietnam and received The Bronze Star Medal upon his return in 1970. After 20 years in the Air Force, Frank retired with the rank of Major and moved his family one last time to reside in Weatherford, Texas in 1972. In Weatherford, Frank and Sylvia purchased an 1896 three-story Victorian house which they began to restore over many years. They loved collecting antiques, and they operated the Victorian House antique shop out of their home for several years. Frank and Sylvia enjoyed taking buying trips up to the Midwest and New England states to find their treasures. Frank was very handy and could fix almost anything. He often repaired, refinished and restored the antique furniture they brought back home. You name it, and he could probably do it, including all home repairs, carpentry work, electrical work, plumbing repairs, and most any car repair -even on his antique 1928 Chevrolet. Frank had an excellent memory and could remember detailed facts of events that took place throughout his lifetime. He enjoyed telling stories about his childhood, his parents and siblings. He could recall the names of restaurants where he had eaten and exactly what he had ordered fifty years in the past. Frank never tired of reminiscing of his Air Force days and expeditions around the world. He could talk for hours about the navigators he had flown with and the various places they traveled to like the North Pole, Greenland, England, Germany, France, Spain, and Thailand. He loved a good debate and would never give up on an argument until he proved he was right, which he usually was. Before the internet, many a dispute was settled with the family's old set of World Book Encyclopedias. To those who knew him well, Frank was a good and loyal friend. He was loved and will never be forgotten. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers; a sister; and his wife. He is survived by his daughters, Sheri Gorman and Suzanne Pringle; as well as his son, Frank Darry Eidson, Jr.; and grandchildren, Monica Tidwell, Jasmine Lovelady, Sarah Isabel Pringle, Brantley Pringle, and Breanna Olguin.